Empowering single-molecule analysis with self-assembled DNA nanostructures

Manipulation, measurement, and imaging of single molecules are of great importance for furthering our fundamental understanding of matter and living systems. The past decades have witnessed phenomenal advances in creating single-molecule tools to spatially and temporally control single-molecule events. DNA nanotechnology offers a promising solution for addressing key challenges for on-demand designability of new analytic platforms and controllability of dynamical processes for single-molecule analysis. Here we review recent advances in using self-assembled DNA nanostructures for single-molecule analysis. Thanks to their programmability, accuracy, hybridization dynamics, and chemical functionality, DNA nanostructures can not only act as a part of a “bottom-up” constructed analytic system, but also serve as a defined nanoobject for the calibration of new methodologies, empowering single-molecule analysis. Future research in building better self-assembled structures with sub-nm accuracy and defined optoelectronic properties and advanced molecular machineries with complex functionalities may open new adventures for in vitro and in vivo single-molecule analysis.